New type of frog invented by Benoit Rolland
Have any of you come across or been using the new, angled “Galliane” frog recently invented by Benoit Rolland? Benoit is a 2012 MacArthur Fellow, awarded for his work on improving the violin bow. He makes excellent conventional bows, as well as carbon fiber, but his most recent work has been to replace the frog (on any bow, not just his own) with one that is at a 15 degree angle off of square to the bow. This causes the hair to twist gradually from the tip (where it has the standard orientation) to a sloped angle at the frog. The angle allows you to raise your right wrist as you approach a bow change without having the bow hair become too angled. The keeps more hair on the string, and it allows a simpler motion at the frog, thereby making it somewhat less work to get the same amount of sound and easier to get a smooth bow change.
I recently had him install one of these frogs (which he calls Galliane frogs) on my 1890 C.N. Bazin bow, and I am very impressed with the results. (He simply rehairs the bow and replaces the traditional frog with his own, which you then set aside for reattachment any time in the future.) I do not play so much and so often as to notice much change in the physical effort involved, but the sound quality and responsiveness of my bow have both improved. It feels as if the bow is a couple of inches longer – and who could not enjoy that?! Bow changes are smoother, and I believe it has also caused the spiccato of the bow to be a bit richer -- perhaps because at the best bouncing region of the bow the hair is still slightly rotated and flatter on the strings, without me having to induce that with my right arm. Most interestingly, there used to be a slight chatter in the bow about 2/3 of the way from the frog to the tip when I would draw a slow legato stroke, and that seems to have vanished. Again, I do not know if that is in the new physics of the bow, or in the way I now hold and draw it, but it is very nice.
I understand that the concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is using this new frog, as well as some European soloists. Here is a link to the website explaining the design of the bow.
http://www.galliane.com/
Until recently, I believe this frog has been available only directly from him, but it does not require his expertise to install it, and I think he is now making it available to luthiers and bow makers/repairers anywhere. If you get a chance to give it a spin, it will be worth your while. I would also like to hear if others have comparable results as to how it affects their playing.
Replies (10)
Should be reserved to new bows in my opinion. Leave those beautiful fine old French bows their beautiful frogs. Some of them sound good enough :-)
Greetings,
It's not bad but sometimes it hops off my bow arm during performances and the audience has too root around under their chairs to try and catch him,
Cheers,
Buri
Buri's frog:
@Stephen - Did you try taking your frog to froggy obedience school?
IMO i dont think its something to get too worked over about. Those old French frogs/bows arent being destroyed, just having a replaceable part put in its place. If they threw away the old frog then we can have something to be outraged by, or something something shoulder rest will stir up the hive.
sounds like the "game improvement" golf clubs or tennis rackets.
I've tried it, I quite like it but not sure I'd have one myself.
Brekekekex koax koax!
Thank you Frank for sharing your assessment of the Galliane frog. Your comments echo recent feedback we received from Aleksey Igudesman, who played the Galliane frog at the New York Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve Concert on two bows. Igudesman is amongst musicians of renown who now regularly play Galliane.
By the end of January, Walter Paulus GmbH will offer Galliane for viola bows as well, with cello and bass models expected in the near future. The increase in sound power and stability makes Galliane a beneficial option for any string player. The bow’s playing position follows the arm movement more naturally, putting less constraint on the joints and ligaments. Galliane ™ can be fitted on any traditional, contemporary, or historical bow, by a professional bowmaker, and is an easily reversible option. The price, with a professional fitting, starts around $700. Ornamentation and further work may increase the price. Your bowmaker will give you an estimate, as fitting a Galliane frog is identical to the process of fitting a conventional frog.
Benoit Rolland Studio invites those seeking additional information to visit the recently updated Galliane website, www.galliane.com, or to contact us directly.
Very similar idea to an "audiophile" invention in the 1960s-- turntable manufacturer Garrard developed a tonearm that pivoted the headshell and cartridge as it traveled across the record, thereby greatly reducing tracking error. Although seemingly a good idea at the time, the complexity of the contraption introduced more problems than it solved. Hopefully the bow frog compensator will be more successful.
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December 3, 2013 at 06:41 PM · I wish they could throw in a ball park estimate on their website, at least for the frog itself, no installation. "affordable options" sounds like it can relatively affordable for professionals. I'd be very interested in trying it along with a kreddle. It would almost most be classical/modern fusion fiddle.